Step Bi Step: What To Watch While You’re Stuck Under a Baby

4/19/2018

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There’s nothing quite like having a newly born baby in your home. All of your everything goes to keeping this little, lovely being safe and secure. Not only does showering take extra effort, so does remembering the last time you did (was it yesterday? Tuesday?). So when you’ve spent the past four hours getting a colicky baby to sleep, when your four month old refuses to nap anywhere but your arms, when you’ve embarked on yet another growth spurt and have given up on anything but staying right where you are–I’ve got you. This list of bi friendly media was created to have minimal loud noises, engaging premises, and you, dear exhausted parent, in mind.

Bob’s Burgers

Bob and Linda Belcher, setting a good example for parents that need to be easier on themselves since 2011. Bob’s crush on a butcher earned him a spot on my list of favorite bi parents on tv. Eight seasons in, there are plenty of episodes to keep you up at night (in a good way). where to watch

Playing House

Playing House may not have a lot of queer characters, but the queer themes are front and center. Queer culture is made family, and Playing House is a kind and caring ode to those we choose to love (platonically). where to watch

Great News

The great news is that Great News is some of the best physical comedy on tv right now. The queerness is a little more blink-and-you’ll-miss-it, but the show doesn’t carry over the problematic approach to bisexuality of its predecessor 30 Rock. So many parents struggle with the balance of work and family—though not many quite like this. where to watch

The Good Place

Now where were we? Oh that’s right, The Good Place. Season One earned two unicorns on bi.org’s Unicorn Scale and the second season continued to look at main character Eleanor’s same gender attractions. The show is as good as you’ve heard—and now is the perfect time to catch up. where to watch

Made in Chelsea

If you like Real Housewives and are looking for a minimalist fix, Made in Chelsea just might be for you. Season One has relatively less yelling, almost no swearing, and one lovely bi coming out. where to watch

New Girl

I make my love for New Girl no secret, and from the first season to its seventh and last, it has been a bright spot on the queer TV horizon. From lesbian gynecologists to queer mom’s fiancees to mentioning two dads in passing, this network comedy kept it queer in such a real life way. The addition of Megan Fox, as main character Cece’s ex, was seamless, brilliant, and bi-friendly in such a delightful way. where to watch

Reagan and Cece

The Bold Type

The Bold Type is joyous, funny, and just the right amount of fantastical. Like I said in What I Watched, Heard, And Felt To Get Through 2017, “The first season of The Bold Type was fun, feminist, queer, bi…It was everything I wish I had when I was that age. And it gave me hope.” So, not a bad idea for when you’re holding a little bit of our next generation close. where to watch

Top Chef

There have been fifteen seasons of this culinary juggernaut, and if you haven’t seen a single one you’re in for a treat. Lots of queer chefs on this show all the way back to season one’s “bi Bostonian” Tiffani Faison and including season three’s Hung Huynh. Plus, who knows, you might get inspired to create a dish of your own…in a few months/years/maybe never but it was a good idea at the time. where to watch

I hope you’ve found some shows that won’t put you to sleep (and don’t wake up the little one you’ve finally gotten down). Be sure to join me next time, so we can keep figuring this parenting thing out together. Step bi step.

SB Swartz is an author covering inclusive wellness, queer family, and reflections of our world as seen on tv. As a contributing writer for bi.org, SB created the Step Bi Step series for bi parents and originated the This Bi Life series showcasing bi community stories.

SB would very much like to talk to you about your pets, her pets, and the way you view the world. She's her favorite somebody's mama. And yes, she's #StillBisexual.

Find SB Swartz @sbswrites on Twitter and read more of her latest @sbswartz on Medium.